Shipyards project receives international acclaim

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. – The City of North Vancouver’s Shipyards project is receiving international praise for excellence in waterfront development.

The Shipyards was awarded top honours in the Excellence on the Waterfront Awards Program from the Waterfront Centre. The  U.S.-based centre was founded in 1987 to recognize innovative waterfront planning, design and development work around the globe.

North Vancouver’s Shipyards project transformed its waterfront lands into an interactive, year-round public space that includes over 85,000 square feet of commercial and community amenity space. 

The Shipyards is now a waterfront tourism destination that features restaurants, cafes, shops and services, two hotels, space for community events, concerts and markets, plus the region’s largest outdoor skating rink in the winter and a splash park in the summer.

“People always tell me how much they love our revitalized waterfront,” said North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan. “The Shipyards is of great historical and economic importance to our City although it needed transformation for modern use. That is why the City has delivered a space that embraces our history, grows the economy in new ways, and offers vibrant and welcoming spaces for all people. It’s an honour to take home the 2021 Excellence on the Waterfront award and I thank everyone who helped get us here.”

Judged noted the Shipyards project for its sensitivity of the design to water, design quality, civic contribution, environmental values and degree of difficulty.

The winners were chosen by an interdisciplinary panel made up of professional planners, designers, city officials and representatives from business, community and development sectors.

This is the second major award The Shipyards has received in the past year. In March, the City also won top honours from the British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) receiving a Community Project Award for its redevelopment of The Shipyards in Lower Lonsdale and commitment to supporting and expanding the local economy.